“Decent affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without basic shelter, everything falls apart,” Matthew Desmond wrote in his book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Many endowments and experts focused on Community Investing would agree. While affordable housing serves as one aspect of Community Investing, such investment programs tend to catalyze local innovation and stimulate the economy by way of job creation and education. Further, for some investors, Community Investing tends to hit the bottom line twice: invigorating local economies while boosting returns.

The Intentional Endowments Network (IEN) approached specialists within the Community Investing space to get their perspectives on the value of Community Investing, understanding how to incorporate such investments in one's portfolio, and how to truly make an impact regardless of varying levels of assets under management. IEN approached:

Elyse Cherry, CEO and President, BlueHub Capital

Michael Swack, Center for Impact Finance, University of New Hampshire

Erik Gross, Treasurer, University of New Hampshire Foundation

Michael Hokenson, Partner, Community Investment Management

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